Workshop looks into water, land environmental situation

Domestic waste pollutes water in central Thanh Hoa province (Photo: VNA)

Environmentalists discussed the environmental situation of and challenges to the nation’s land and water during a workshop held in Hue city of central Thua Thien-Hue province on August 4.

The event was held by the Vietnam Environmental Administration under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Deputy Head of the administration Hoang Duong Tung said the quality of the land and water environment is being considerably degraded and contaminated due to socio-economic development activities.

Water pollution in particular is becoming prominent in not only urban and manufacturing areas but also in rural ones, he said.

In addition, the risk of water contamination from cross-border water resources should be promptly followed and controlled, he suggested.

Meanwhile, land pollution and degradation as well as the conversion of land uses have caused substantial consequences for local livelihoods and socio-economic growth, Tung said.

A report from Thua Thien-Hue province said Nhu Y and An Cuu Rivers in Thua Thien-Hue, for example, are being seriously polluted. The level of iron in the Huong River is likely to increase and other rivers and lakes are contaminated from waste water discharged during local daily activities.

The extreme and unreasonable exploitation of aquatic resources is degrading the local biological diversity, while mining activities are affecting underground water sources.

During the workshop, participants highlighted directions for policies and laws on environmental protection, including controlling water and land pollution.

According to the Vietnam Environmental Administration, the information shared during the event is useful for generating a draft report on the national environment in 2015, which is compiled once every five years.-VNA